The Mission of American Mothers is to empower parents to strengthen the moral, spiritual, and educational foundations of the home and family. Join us in Reaching, Teaching, and Honoring Mothers in San Antonio.

Note: This is an mySA.com City Brights Blog. These blogs are not written or edited by mySA or the San Antonio Express-News. The authors are solely responsible for the content.

National Mother of the Year: Ernestine Allen

Ernestine Allen, Mother of the Year from Washington D.C., was selected as the 2011 National Mother of the Year. It was so inspiring to hear about her life of service as a mother. Ernestine is a mother of two and has been blessed with six grandchildren. She learned family values at an early age as the tenth of eighteen children. She is a teacher and a certified HIV counselor and tester. She has served her community in many ways. She has worked on the Ministerial Alliance offering marital and premarital counseling, set up a support group for bereaved parents, and ministered to women in the Fairview Women’s Facility.

In her speech at the American Mothers National Convention she said, “You must do the right thing. Everything comes back to you, the good and the bad. I always knew it was my responsibility to perpetuate the good values in my children. I dedicated myself to their care. I taught them to respect God, self, family and friends.”

Ernestine’s son was murdered in 2006. It was a difficult experience to pass through as a family. She says of that time, “When a mother remains constant in the lives of her family, they are automatically elevated.” With faith in God, she helped her family get through the hard times. She is a witness that mothers have a great influence on others.

Ronald, her eldest son, can attest to the strength of her faith. “That is where we get our giving personality,” he says. “My mother has done it all her life because she loves to encourage and empower others. And through our toughest time, the passing of my brother, she was the glue that held us and our faith together.” source

After the announcement was made that she had been selected as National Mother of the Year she said, “I should have known God was up to something.” I think Ernestine speaks for all American Mothers when she says, “I cannot think of a greater honor than to be called mother.” She has been called mother by her kids, her students, and even the oldest elder in her church calls her “Mama Allen.”

All quotes are from my notes except the one cited.

Watch this interview with Sally Olsen, UT Mother of the Year, and Emi Edgley, UT Young Mother of the Year.